Mental Health Practitioner - Primary Care

We are looking to recruit an enthusiastic and compassionate Mental Health Practitioner to join our Primary Care Team. This is an exciting opportunity to work within a multidisciplinary environment supporting patients with a wide range of mental health needs within a primary care setting.

This is a newly developed and evolving role within the Primary Care Network, offering an excellent opportunity for an experienced practitioner to help shape and lead the development of mental health support across primary care services. The successful candidate will play a key role in establishing and developing the service, including designing protocols, pathways and processes to ensure safe, effective and accessible patient care.

The successful candidate will work closely with GP’s, PCN staff, community services and partner organisations to provide early intervention, assessment, support, signposting and coordinated care for patients experiencing mental health difficulties.

The role is ideal for someone who is passionate about improving access to mental health support, reducing health inequalities and delivering person-centered care within the local community.

Main Duties Include:

• Undertaking mental health assessments and risk assessments
• Supporting patients with mild to moderate mental health needs
• Developing care and support plans
• Working collaboratively with GPs and the wider multidisciplinary team
• Signposting and referring patients to appropriate services
• Supporting patients to improve wellbeing and self-management
• Developing clinical pathways, protocols and service processes
• Supporting the development and implementation of the new role across the PCN
• Providing leadership and guidance within the mental health workstream
• Maintaining accurate and timely clinical records

We Are Looking For Someone Who:

• Has significant experience working within mental health services or primary care
• Has excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Can work independently and as part of a team
• Is organised, adaptable and patient-focused
• Has knowledge of safeguarding and risk management
• Has experience leading or developing services, pathways or quality improvement initiatives
• Is confident working strategically and operationally within a developing role

Essential Qualifications:

• Registered Mental Health Nurse, Social Worker, Occupational Therapist or equivalent recognised professional qualification
• Current professional registration where applicable

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Annette Maltby, Primary Care Network Manager annette.maltby@nhs.net

Job Description

Job Title: Mental Health Practitioner

Reports To: Clinical Director / PCN Manager

Accountable To: Primary Care Network

Job Purpose:
The Mental Health Practitioner will work within a primary care setting as part of a multidisciplinary team to support patients experiencing mental health difficulties. The role will focus on providing early intervention, assessment, brief interventions, care coordination and signposting to appropriate services.

This is a newly established role within the PCN, and the post holder will be expected to take a lead role in developing and shaping the service. This will include developing clinical pathways, protocols, referral processes and collaborative working arrangements to support the effective delivery of mental health services within primary care.

The post holder will work collaboratively with GP’s, community mental health services and voluntary sector organisations to improve patient outcomes and access to support.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities:

• Undertake holistic mental health assessments.
• Assess and manage clinical risk, including safeguarding concerns.
• Provide brief interventions and support for patients with mild to moderate mental health conditions.
• Develop person-centred care and support plans.
• Support patients with self-management and recovery planning.
• Provide advice and guidance to primary care colleagues where appropriate.
• Facilitate referrals into secondary care and community services.
• Maintain accurate, contemporaneous clinical records.

Service Development and Leadership

• Lead the development and implementation of the Mental Health Practitioner role within the PCN
• Develop and implement clinical protocols, pathways and operational procedures
• Support the design and continuous improvement of mental health services within primary care
• Build strong collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders Contribute to strategic planning and service transformation initiatives
• Support quality improvement, audit and evaluation activity

Patient Care:

• Promote patient wellbeing and independence.
• Support patients to access community resources and support networks.
• Work with patients in a compassionate, non-judgemental manner.
• Ensure patients are involved in decisions regarding their care.

Partnership Working:

• Work collaboratively with GPs, practice teams, social prescribing teams and community services.
• Attend multidisciplinary team meetings where appropriate.
• Develop strong working relationships with external agencies and voluntary organisations.

Safeguarding and Risk:

• Identify safeguarding concerns and follow local safeguarding procedures.
• Escalate concerns appropriately.
• Contribute to risk management and crisis planning.

Administration and Governance:

• Maintain confidentiality and comply with GDPR requirements.
• Participate in clinical supervision and appraisal.
• Support audit and service evaluation activity.
• Contribute to service development and quality improvement initiatives.

Person Specification

Essential:

• Relevant professional qualification in mental health or related field
• Professional registration where applicable
• Experience working with people experiencing mental health difficulties
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work autonomously and within a multidisciplinary team
• Knowledge of safeguarding procedures
• Good IT and record-keeping skills
• Experience of developing services, pathways or clinical processes
• Leadership and service improvement experience

Desirable:

• Experience working within primary care or community settings
• Knowledge of local mental health pathways
• Experience of care coordination
• Training in brief interventions or psychological approaches
• Experience supporting organisational or service change initiatives

Working Conditions:
The post holder may be required to work across multiple GP practice sites within the Primary Care Network and undertake home visits where appropriate.

Interviews: To be arranged

Work Location: In person